Lasius

Lasius Temporal range: 48.6–0 Ma K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl Eocene – Recent
Lasius niger
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Lasiini
Genus:	Lasius Fabricius, 1804
Type species
Formica nigra
Diversity
140 species 22 fossil species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Lasius niger Specimen Label
Synonyms
Acanthomyops Mayr, 1862 Austrolasius Faber, 1967 Cautolasius Wilson, 1955 Chthonolasius Ruzsky, 1912 Dendrolasius Ruzsky, 1912 Donisthorpea Morice & Durrant, 1915 Tylolasius Zhang, J., 1989

Evolutionary Relationships

Formicinae Myrmelachistini   (2 genera) Lasiini Cladomyrma   (13 species) Lasius   (140 species) Myrmecocystus   (30 species) Metalasius   (1 species) Paraparatrechina   (42 species) Prenolepis   (19 species) Zatania   (6 species) Nylanderia   (149 species) Pseudolasius   (66 species) Euprenolepis   (8 species) Paratrechina   (5 species) Melophorini   (9 genera) Formicini   (8 genera) Gesomyrmex, Oecophylla Plagiolepidini   (9 genera) Gigantiops, Myrmoteras, Santschiella Camponotini   (8 genera)

Based on Ward et al. (2016), Matos-Maravi et al. (2018) and Boudinot et al. (2022).

Lasius is one of the most prominent and familiar of the Holarctic ant genera. From the time of Reaumur in the eighteenth century (Wheeler, 1926), European and North American entomologists have focused attention on it in countless general biological and taxonomic investigations which are today part of the classical foundation of myrmecology. It is probably best known for its conspicuous nuptial flights, its habit of tending and transporting homopterous insects, and the temporary parasitic behavior of some of its species. It has also attracted much attention as one of the several ant genera which have persisted in Europe and North America since early Tertiary times with only a small amount of visible evolutionary change. (Wilson 1955)

At a Glance

• Diploid male

 

Photo Gallery

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  Myrmecophilus acervorum (Orthoptera, family Myrmecophilidae) within the nest of a Lasius sp. Photo by Thomas Stalling.

Identification

The morphological distinctions between Lasuis and Acanthomyops have always been unambiguous but it has taken a recent molecular phylogenetic analysis (Janda et al. 2004) to settle whether or not these two groups represent two distinctive genera. The latter is well accepted today as a synonym of Lasius. It remains convenient for identification purposes to distinguish Acanthomyops as a distinctive species group within Lasius.

Nearctic species of Lasius with long maxillary palpi, those that were once thought to be distinctive from Acanthomyops, can be determined to species using this key by Wilson (1955) :

• Key to Nearctic Lasius workers with long maxillary palpi

Wing (1968) provides the following in his revision of the Neartic Acanthomyops: Acanthomyops has short, 3-segmented maxillary palpi, while those of Lasius are 6-segmented and long. Another attribute of Acanthomyops that serves as a convenient diagnostic character for field collectors using a mouth-type aspirator is the presence of a characteristic odor produced by the mandibular glands of disturbed workers. This odor, a defense mechanism, is like that of oil of citronella or lemon verbena. As sensed by a collector with normal olfactory powers the odor is pronounced. A few species of Lasius possess a similar odor, but it is sensed, at most, as quite weak. Lasius umbratus probably has the strongest odor of any species of Lasius, yet it is decidedly weaker than that of all species of Acanthomyops I have collected.

• Key to Nearctic workers of Acanthomyops - the short key
• Key to Nearctic Acanthomyops workers
• Key to Nearctic Acanthomyops queens
• Key to Nearctic Acanthomyops males

There is also a somewhat outdated (1955) and restricted (no Nearctic Acanthomyops queens and males):

• Key to Lasius queens and males

See images of species within this genus

Keys including this Genus

• Key to Ant Genera of the Navajo Reservation
• Key to North American Genera of Formicinae
• Key to the Ant Genera of New Mexico

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

• Key to the Lasius of the Indian Himalayas
• Key to Lasius-Nearctic workers of Acanthomyops short key
• Key to Lasius-Nearctic Acanthomyops workers
• Key to Lasius-Nearctic Acanthomyops queens
• Key to Lasius-Nearctic Acanthomyops males
• Key to Lasius Nearctic workers with long maxillary palpi
• Key to Lasius Palaearctic workers
• Key to Lasius males
• Key to Lasius queens
• Key to North American Lasius Species
• Key to Lasius Dendrolasius workers of the East Palaearctic
• Key to Lasius Dendrolasius queens of the East Palaearctic
• Key to Europe and Asia Minor Lasius alienus group species
• Key to New England Lasius
• Key to Lasius of Crete
• Key to Palaearctic Lasius s. str.

Distribution

Lasius occupies a purely Holarctic range. Northward it reaches northern Scandinavia, the Baikal region of Siberia, Kamchatka, southeastern Alaska, and southern Labrador. Southward it reaches Madeira, North Africa, northern Iraq, the southern Himalayas, the mountains of Formosa, the mountains of central Mexico, and northern Florida. Where it comes closest geographically to tropical faunas, as in southeastern Asia, it still retains its north-temperate character, i.e., limited to temperate vegetation at higher elevations and there associated chiefly with typically Holarctie ant genera. (Wilson 1955)

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Aix-en-Provence, France (Late Oligocene), Baltic amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Berezovsky massif, Zakarpatskaya, Ukraine (Serravallian, Miocene), Bitterfeld amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Danish-Scandinavian amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Florissant, Colorado, United States (Late Eocene), Joursac, Auvergne, France (Late Miocene), Kishenehn Formation shale, Montana, United States (Lutetian, Middle Eocene), Lac Chambon, Auvergne, France (Pliocene), Parschlug, Austria (Serravallian, Miocene), Radoboj, Croatia (Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Rovno amber (Priabonian, Late Eocene), Schossnitz (= Sosnica?), Silesia, Poland (Late Miocene), Shanwang, China (Early Miocene), Vishnevaya Balka Creek, Stavropol, Russian Federation (Middle Miocene).

Biology

Within this range it is among the most abundant of all insect genera. In Europe the two species Lasius niger and Lasius flavus are often the overriding dominants of the ant fauna in local situations and under a variety of ecological conditions. In the eastern United States neoniger mounts such dense populations in open fields and lawns that W. M. Wheeler was once moved (1905) to suggest that it might be the most abundant insect in North America. Such a contention would probably be an exaggeration with respect to all insects, of course, yet there is no denying neoniger its importance as a major faunal influent within its range and favored habitat.

Lasius is also remarkable - perhaps unique - among animal groups thus far monographed, in its great abundance, ubiquity, and conspicuousness, and the consequent ease with which it can be found in the field. Anywhere in the northern United States, in practically all but desert and semidesert conditions, it is possible for an investigator to walk onto nearly any plot of ground and within a matter of minutes find nests of one or more species. (Wilson 1955)

Association with Other Organisms

Species Uncertain

• Unknown species of Lasius are hosts for the nematodes Diploscapter lycostoma (Wahab, 1962), Koerneria histophora (Wahab, 1962), Pheromermis myrmecophila (Crawley & Baylis, 1921), Pristionchus lheritieri (Wahab, 1962), the eucharitid wasp Pseudometagea schwarzii (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host), and the cricket Myrmecophilus acervorum.
• An unknown species of Lasius is prey for the tiger beetle Cicindelidia punctulata (a predator) in the United States (Valenti & Gaimari, 2000; Polidori et al., 2020).
• An unknown species is host for the cricket Myrmecophilus fuscus (Stalling et al., 2015; Stalling & Cassar, 2020; Stalling et al., 2021).
• An unknown species is a associate (details unknown) for the phorid fly Hypogeophora macrothrix (a associate (details unknown)) (Quevillon, 2018).
• An unknown species is a host for the braconid wasp Elasmosomites primordialis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Pseudometagea schwarzii (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Pseudometagea sp. (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a host for the fungus Pandora formicae (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a host for the nematode Diploscapter lycostoma (a parasite) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a host for the nematode Pheromermis myrmecophila (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a host for the nematode Pristionchus lheritieri (a parasite) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a host for the trematode Dicrocoelium dendriticum (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest).
• An unknown species is a prey for the Microdon fly Microdon ruficrus (a predator) (Quevillon, 2018).

All Associate Records for Genus

Explore Associate Data: All, Drilldown

Click here to show/hide associate data.

Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
Lasius	associate (details unknown)	phorid fly	Hypogeophora macrothrix	associate (details unknown)		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius	host	braconid wasp	Elasmosomites primordialis	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus acervorum	myrmecophile	Europe
Lasius	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus fuscus	myrmecophile	Mediterranean region	Stalling et al., 2015; Stalling & Cassar, 2020; Stalling et al., 2021
Lasius	host	eucharitid wasp	Pseudometagea schwarzii	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Lasius	host	eucharitid wasp	Pseudometagea schwarzii	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	host	eucharitid wasp	Pseudometagea sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	host	fungus	Pandora formicae	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	host	nematode	Diploscapter lycostoma	parasite		Wahab, 1962
Lasius	host	nematode	Diploscapter lycostoma	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	host	nematode	Koerneria histophora	parasite		Wahab, 1962
Lasius	host	nematode	Pheromermis myrmecophila	parasite		Crawley & Baylis, 1921
Lasius	host	nematode	Pheromermis myrmecophila	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	host	nematode	Pristionchus lheritieri	parasite		Wahab, 1962
Lasius	host	nematode	Pristionchus lheritieri	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	host	trematode	Dicrocoelium dendriticum	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon ruficrus	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius	prey	tiger beetle	Cicindelidia punctulata	predator	United States	Valenti & Gaimari, 2000; Polidori et al., 2020
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius carniolicus	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius distinguendus	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius jensi	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius mixtus	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius reginae	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	ant	Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite
Lasius alienus	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius alienus	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius alienus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon buccatus	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius alienus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon rileyi	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius alienus	host	nematode	"Mermis"	parasite	England (Oxford, Cornwal)	Crawley & Baylis, 1921
Lasius alienus	host	nematode	Mermis myrmecophila	parasite	Germany	Gosswald, 1929; Laciny, 2021
Lasius alienus	host	nematode	Mermithidae (unspecified "Mermix")	parasite	Germany (Wuerzburg)	Gösswald, 1938; Laciny, 2021
Lasius alienus	host	phorid fly	Pseudacteon formicarum	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius alienus	host	tachinid fly	Strongylogaster globula	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius alienus	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Lasius alienus	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon ruficrus	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius americanus	host	ant	Lasius claviger	temporary parasite
Lasius americanus	host	ant	Lasius latipes	temporary parasite
Lasius americanus	host	ant	Lasius minutus	temporary parasite
Lasius americanus	host	nematode	Allomermis (sensu Cobb)	parasite	Massachusetts, United States	Wheeler, 1928; Laciny, 2021
Lasius arizonicus	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius bicornis	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius brevicornis	host	nematode	Allomermis (sensu Cobb)	parasite	Massachusetts, United States	Wheeler, 1928; Laciny, 2021
Lasius brunneus	host	ant	Lasius citrinus	temporary parasite
Lasius brunneus	host	ant	Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite
Lasius brunneus	host	ant	Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite
Lasius brunneus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon buccatus	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius brunneus	host	nematode	Diplogasteroides spengelii	parasite		Kohler, 2012
Lasius brunneus	host	nematode	Diplogasteroides spengelli	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius brunneus	host	nematode	Diploscapter sp.	parasite		Kohler, 2012
Lasius brunneus	host	nematode	Halicephalobus similigaster	parasite		Kohler, 2012
Lasius brunneus	host	nematode	Koerneria histophora	parasite		Kohler, 2012
Lasius brunneus	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichura	parasite		Kohler, 2012
Lasius brunneus	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichura	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius brunneus	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Lasius brunneus	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius californicus	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius carniolicus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host
Lasius carniolicus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius flavus	host
Lasius carniolicus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius piliferus	host
Lasius citrinus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon buccatus	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius citrinus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius brunneus	host
Lasius citrinus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius niger	host			needs confirmation
Lasius claviger	host	ant	Lasius plumopilosus	temporary parasite
Lasius claviger	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichura	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius claviger	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichura	parasite		Nickle & Ayre, 1966
Lasius claviger	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius americanus	host
Lasius claviger	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius neoniger	host
Lasius coloradensis	host	pselaphid beetle	Adranes sp. near lecontei		Black Hills, South Dakota	Schwartz, 1895
Lasius coloradensis	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius crypticus	host	ant	Lasius latipes	temporary parasite
Lasius crypticus	xenobiont	ant	Monomorium minimum	host		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius distinguendus	host	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon devius	predator	Latium, central Italy	Scarparo et al., 2020
Lasius distinguendus	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius distinguendus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host
Lasius emarginatus	host	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon analis	predator	Latium, central Italy	Scarparo et al., 2020
Lasius emarginatus	host	ant	Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite
Lasius emarginatus	host	phorid fly	Pseudacteon formicarum	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius flavus	host	ant	Lasius carniolicus	temporary parasite
Lasius flavus	host	ant	Lasius orientalis	temporary parasite
Lasius flavus	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius flavus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon buccatus	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius flavus	host	nematode	"Mermis"	parasite	England (Oxford, Cornwal)	Crawley & Baylis, 1921
Lasius flavus	host	nematode	Mermithidae (unspecified "Mermix")	parasite	Germany (Wuerzburg)	Gösswald, 1938; Laciny, 2021
Lasius flavus	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichura	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius flavus	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichura	parasite		Janet, 1893; Wahab, 1962
Lasius flavus	host	nematode	Pheromermis myrmecophila	parasite	Ireland	O'Rourke, 1946; O’Grady & Breen, 2011; Laciny, 2021
Lasius flavus	host	nematode	Pheromermis villosa	parasite	Austria	Kaiser, 1986a, 1986b
Lasius flavus	host	phorid fly	Pseudacteon formicarum	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius flavus	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius fuliginosus	host	eucharitid wasp	Pseudometagea sp.	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Lasius fuliginosus	host	fungus	Beauveria bassiana	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius fuliginosus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Eurypterna cremieri	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius fuliginosus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Ghilaromma fuliginosi	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius fuliginosus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon arakawae	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius fuliginosus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon cremieri	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius fuliginosus	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hyrbizon fuliginosi	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius fuliginosus	host	milichiid fly	Milichia ludens	myrmecophile	Germany, Norway, United Kingdom	Raddatz, 1873; Okland, 1998; Donisthorpe, 1927; Webb & Ismay, 2003; Poulton, 1919; Milichiidae online
Lasius fuliginosus	host	milichiid fly	Phyllomyza donisthorpei	myrmecophile	Sweden, United Kingdom	Donisthorpe, 1927; Andersson, 1971; Milichiidae online
Lasius fuliginosus	host	milichiid fly	Phyllomyza equitans	myrmecophile	Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom	Donisthorpe, 1927; Okland, 1998; Andersson, 1971; Tiensuu, 1946; Donisthorpe, 1927; Duda, 1935; Milichiidae online
Lasius fuliginosus	host	milichiid fly	Phyllomyza flavitarsis	myrmecophile	Germany	Raddatz, 1873; Milichiidae online
Lasius fuliginosus	host	milichiid fly	Phyllomyza pallida	myrmecophile	Netherlands	de Meijere, 1940; Milichiidae online
Lasius fuliginosus	host	mite	Formicomotes octipes	parasite	Iran	Sevastianov 1980; Rahiminejad & Hajiqanbar, 2020	ectoparasite
Lasius fuliginosus	host	mite	Gaeolaelaps glabrosimilis	parasite	Western Siberia, Russia	Joharchi et al., 2020	ectoparasite
Lasius fuliginosus	host	phorid fly	Pseudacteon formicarum	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius fuliginosus	host	pteromalid wasp	Spalangia crassicornis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius fuliginosus	host	pteromalid wasp	Spalangia nigripes	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius fuliginosus	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host
Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius brunneus	host
Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius mixtus	host
Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius niger	host
Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius rabaudi	host
Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius umbratus	host
Lasius grandis	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius grandis	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius grandis	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius grandis	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon buccatus	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius hayashi	host	ant	Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite
Lasius interjectus	host	ant	Lasius latipes	temporary parasite
Lasius interjectus	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius japonicus	host	ant	Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite
Lasius jensi	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host
Lasius lasioides	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus fuscus	myrmecophile	Mallorca
Lasius latipes	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius americanus	host		Ellison et al., 2012; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius latipes	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius crypticus	host		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius latipes	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius interjectus	host		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius latipes	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius neoniger	host		Ellison et al., 2012; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius latipes	xenobiont	ant	Formica occulta	xenobiont		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius latipes	xenobiont	ant	Lasius sitiens	xenobiont		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius latipes	xenobiont	ant	Myrmica hamulata	xenobiont		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host	Europe	Collingwood, 1979
Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius hayashi	host	Japan	Japanese Ant Image Database	needs confirmation
Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius japonicus	host	Japan	Japanese Ant Image Database	needs confirmation
Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius niger	host	Europe	Collingwood, 1979
Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius psammophilus	host	Europe	Collingwood, 1979
Lasius mexicanus	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius minutus	host	ant	Lasius speculiventris	temporary parasite		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius minutus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius americanus	host		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius minutus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius pallitarsis	host		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius mixtus	host	ant	Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite
Lasius mixtus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host		Collingwood, 1979
Lasius mixtus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius niger	host		Collingwood, 1979
Lasius murphyi	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius murphyi	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius murphyi	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius neoniger	host
Lasius myops	host	ant	Lasius reginae	temporary parasite
Lasius neglectus	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius neglectus	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius neoniger	host	ant	Lasius claviger	temporary parasite
Lasius neoniger	host	ant	Lasius latipes	temporary parasite
Lasius neoniger	host	ant	Lasius murphyi	temporary parasite
Lasius neoniger	host	ant	Lasius subumbratus	temporary parasite
Lasius neoniger	host	ant	Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite
Lasius neoniger	host	eucharitid wasp	Pseudometagea schwarzii	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Lasius neoniger	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius neoniger	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius neoniger	host	nematode	Mermithidae (unspecified "Mermix")	parasite	Europe	Wheeler, 1928; Laciny, 2021
Lasius niger	associate (details unknown)	braconid wasp	Paralypsis enervis	associate (details unknown)		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius niger	host	ant	Lasius citrinus	temporary parasite
Lasius niger	host	ant	Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite
Lasius niger	host	ant	Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite
Lasius niger	host	ant	Lasius mixtus	temporary parasite
Lasius niger	host	ant	Lasius rabaudi	temporary parasite
Lasius niger	host	ant	Lasius sabularum	temporary parasite
Lasius niger	host	ant	Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite
Lasius niger	host	braconid wasp	Elasmosoma berolinense	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius niger	host	cestode	Mesocestoides sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius niger	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus balcanicus	myrmecophile	Macedonia
Lasius niger	host	encyrtid wasp	Anicetus beneficus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius niger	host	encyrtid wasp	Bothriothorax intermedius	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius niger	host	encyrtid wasp	Syrphophagus aphidivorus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius niger	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius niger	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen
Lasius niger	host	ichneumonid wasp	Hybrizon buccatus	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius niger	host	mite	Petalomium crinitus	parasite	Iran	Khaustov & Tolstikov, 2016; Rahiminejad & Hajiqanbar, 2020	ectoparasite
Lasius niger	host	mite	Petalomium nataliae	parasite	Iran	Sevastianov, 1967; Rahiminejad & Hajiqanbar, 2020	ectoparasite
Lasius niger	host	nematode	"Mermis"	parasite	England (Oxford, Cornwal)	Crawley & Baylis, 1921
Lasius niger	host	nematode	Mermithidae (Pheromermis sp.?)	parasite	Austria, Burgenland	Laciny, 2017
Lasius niger	host	nematode	Mermithidae (unspecified "Mermix")	parasite	Germany (Wuerzburg)	Gösswald, 1938; Laciny, 2021
Lasius niger	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichura	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius niger	host	nematode	Pheromermis lasiusi	parasite		Rubstov, 1970
Lasius niger	host	nematode	Pheromermis myrmecophila	parasite	Ireland	O'Rourke, 1946; O’Grady & Breen, 2011; Laciny, 2021
Lasius niger	host	nematode	Pheromermis villosa	parasite	Austria	Kaiser, 1986a, 1986b
Lasius niger	host	phorid fly	Aenigmatias franzi	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius niger	host	phorid fly	Pseudacteon formicarum	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius niger	host	pteromalid wasp	Asaphes vulgaris	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius niger	host	pteromalid wasp	Caenacis sp.	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius niger	host	pteromalid wasp	Pachyneuron aphidis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Lasius niger	host	tachinid fly	Strongylogaster globula	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius niger	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Lasius niger	mutualist	butterfly	Laeosopis roboris			Obregon et al. 2015
Lasius niger	mutualist	butterfly	Zizeeria knysna			Obregon et al. 2015
Lasius niger	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon mutabilis	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius niger	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius nipponensis	host	ichneumonid wasp	Eurypterna cremieri	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius nitidigaster	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius occidentalis	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius orientalis	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius flavus	host
Lasius pallitarsis	host	ant	Lasius minutus	temporary parasite		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius pallitarsis	host	ant	Lasius subumbratus	temporary parasite		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius pallitarsis	host	ant	Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius pallitarsis	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius pallitarsis	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	parasite		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Lasius pallitarsis	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius pallitarsis	prey	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Lasius piliferus	host	ant	Lasius carniolicus	temporary parasite
Lasius plumopilosus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius claviger	host		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius pogonogynus	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius psammophilus	host	ant	Lasius meridionalis	temporary parasite
Lasius psammophilus	host	ant	Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite
Lasius pubescens	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius rabaudi	host	ant	Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite
Lasius rabaudi	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius niger	host
Lasius reginae	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host
Lasius reginae	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius myops	host
Lasius sabularum	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius niger	host
Lasius sitiens	xenobiont	ant	Crematogaster punctulata	xenobiont
Lasius sitiens	xenobiont	ant	Formica argentea	xenobiont
Lasius sitiens	xenobiont	ant	Formica occulta	xenobiont
Lasius sitiens	xenobiont	ant	Lasius latipes	xenobiont
Lasius sitiens	xenobiont	ant	Monomorium minimum	xenobiont
Lasius sitiens	xenobiont	ant	Myrmica hamulata	xenobiont
Lasius sitiens	xenobiont	ant	Solenopsis molesta	xenobiont
Lasius spathepus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius japonicus	host		Japanese Ant Image Database	needs confirmation
Lasius speculiventris	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius minutus	host		Ellison et al., 2012
Lasius subglaber	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Lasius subumbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius neoniger	host
Lasius subumbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius pallitarsis	host
Lasius umbratus	host	ant	Lasius fuliginosus	temporary parasite
Lasius umbratus	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus pergandei	myrmecophile	United States
Lasius umbratus	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata			Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Lasius umbratus	host	phorid fly	Pseudacteon formicarum	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius alienus	host
Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius brunneus	host
Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius emarginatus	host
Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius neoniger	host
Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius niger	host
Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius pallitarsis	host
Lasius umbratus	temporary parasite	ant	Lasius psammophilus	host

Flight Period

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Taxon	Month	Source	Notes
Lasius alienus	Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius austriacus	Jul • Aug • Sep	Schlick-Steiner et al., 2003
Lasius bicornis	Apr • May • Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius brevicornis	Aug • Sep
Lasius brunneus	May • Jun • Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info
Lasius capitatus	Sep	Yamauchi et al., 1986; Japanese Ant Image Database	Japan
Lasius carniolicus	May • Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct	antkeeping.info
Lasius citrinus	Apr • May • Jun • Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info
Lasius claviger	Aug • Sep • Oct • Nov • Dec	antkeeping.info
Lasius distinguendus	Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius emarginatus	Jun • Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info
Lasius flavus	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius fuliginosus	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius hayashi	Jul • Aug		Japan
Lasius interjectus	Apr • May • Jun	antkeeping.info
Lasius japonicus	Jul • Aug		Japan
Lasius jensi	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius lasioides	May • Jun • Jul	antkeeping.info
Lasius latipes	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius meridionalis	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius mixtus	Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius morisitai	Jul		Japan
Lasius murphyi	Mar	antkeeping.info
Lasius myops	May • Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius nearcticus	Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius neoniger	Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct • Nov • Dec	antkeeping.info
Lasius niger	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius nipponensis	Jun • Jul		Japan
Lasius orientalis	Jul		Japan
Lasius paralienus	Aug • Sep • Oct	antkeeping.info
Lasius platythorax	Jun • Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info
Lasius productus	Aug • Sep		Japan
Lasius psammophilus	Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info
Lasius reginae	Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info
Lasius sabularum	Aug • Sep • Oct	antkeeping.info
Lasius sakagamii	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct		Japan
Lasius sonobei	Aug • Sep		Japan
Lasius spathepus	Jun • Jul • Aug		Japan
Lasius subumbratus	Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info
Lasius talpa	Aug • Sep		Japan
Lasius umbratus	Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep	antkeeping.info

Life History Traits

• Mean colony size: 3000-2500000 (Greer et al., 2021)
• Compound colony type: temperary parasite (Greer et al., 2021)
• Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
• Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

• Habitus drawings of Acanthomyops (=Lasius), Wing 1968
• 

  Worker

• 

  Queen

• 

  Male

Male

Diploid males are known to occur in Lasius alienus or Lasius niger (found in 2.3% of 44 examined nests) (Pearson, 1982, 1983; Cournault & Aron, 2009).

Morphology

Worker Morphology

• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: absent-gradual • Palp formula: 6,4 • Total dental count: 6-10 (0-1) • Spur formula: 1 simple, 1 simple; 0, 0 • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: monomorphic, a few species weakly polymorphic • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: absent; present • Cocoon: polymorphic

Karyotype

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
Lasius alienus		28		Switzerland	Hauschteck, 1962
Lasius alienus	15	30		Germany; Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1983	n=14 was also reported, Lorite and Palomeque 2010 suggested that such karyotype is due Robertsonian polymorphism
Lasius brunneus	15		1M+3ST+11T	Spain	Lorite et al., 1998a; Lorite et al., 2002b	Karyotype n=16 was reported in Lorite et al., 2002b and suggested that it is due B-chromosome
Lasius emarginatus		30		Switzerland	Hauschteck, 1962
Lasius flavus	15	30		Switzerland	Hauschteck, 1962; Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1983
Lasius fuliginosus	14	28		Italy; Switzerland	Hauschteck, 1962; Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1983
Lasius nearcticus	15	30		USA	Crozier, 1970b
Lasius niger	15	30		Japan; Spain; Switzerland	Hauschteck, 1962; Hauschteck, 1963; Imai & Yosida, 1964; Imai, 1966; Imai, 1969; Imai & Kubota, 1972; Palomeque et al., 1990b, 1990c	In Spain population in Palomeque et al. 1990 variation in the number of chromososmes were reported due B-chromosome
Lasius pallitarsis		28		USA	Hung, 1969	as ''Lasius pallitarsus''
Lasius sakagamii	15	30	2M+28A	Japan	Yamauchi et al., 2001
Lasius talpa		30		Japan	Imai & Yosida, 1964; Imai, 1966; Imai, 1969
Lasius umbratus	15	30		Switzerland; USA	Hauschteck, 1962; Hung, 1969

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• LASIUS [Formicinae: Lasiini]
  • Lasius Fabricius, 1804: 415. Type-species: Formica nigra, by subsequent designation of Bingham, 1903: 338.
  • [Lasius Jurine, 1801: 164 (Apidae), resurrected by Morice & Durrant, 1915: 421, suppressed by Act of Commission.]
  • Lasius junior synonym of Acanthomyops: Forel, 1916: 460; Donisthorpe, 1916c: 276; Morice & Durrant, 1917: 442. Donisthorpe, 1927b: 206; Donisthorpe, 1937b: 132; Donisthorpe, 1943f: 655; Donisthorpe, 1946g: 91.
  • Lasius junior synonym of Formicina: Emery, 1916a: 61; Bondroit, 1918: 19.
  • Lasius as genus: Wheeler, W.M. 1916k: 172; Emery, 1925b: 226; Wilson, 1955a: 11.
  • Lasius senior synonym of Donisthorpea: Wheeler, W.M. 1916k: 172; Emery, 1925b: 226; Wilson, 1955a: 11.
  • Lasius senior synonym of †Tylolasius: Hong, Wu & Ren, 2001: 348.
  • Subgenera of Lasius: nominal plus Acanthomyops, Austrolasius, Cautolasius, Chthonolasius, Dendrolasius.
• DONISTHORPEA [junior synonym of Lasius]
  • Donisthorpea Morice & Durrant, 1915: 423. Type-species: Formica nigra, by original designation. [Unnecessary replacement name for Lasius Fabricius.]
  • Donisthorpea as genus: Donisthorpe, 1915d: 184.
  • Donisthorpea subgenus of Formicina: Emery, 1916a: 11; Emery, 1916b: 239.
  • Donisthorpea subgenus of Acanthomyops: Donisthorpe, 1927b: 229; Donisthorpe, 1946g: 91.
  • Donisthorpea junior synonym of Acanthomyops: Forel, 1916: 460; Morice & Durrant, 1917: 442; Donisthorpe, 1927b: 209.
  • Donisthorpea junior synonym of Lasius: Wheeler, W.M. 1916k: 172; Wilson, 1955a: 11.
  • [Lasius and Donisthorpea share the same type-species, synonymy is therefore absolute.]
• †TYLOLASIUS [junior synonym of Lasius]
  • †Tylolasius Zhang, J. 1989: 295. Type-species: †Tylolasius inflatus, by original designation.
  • †Tylolasius junior synonym of Lasius: Hong, Wu & Ren, 2001: 348.

References

• Agosti, D. 1991. Revision of the oriental ant genus Cladomyrma, with an outline of the higher classification of the Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Entomol. 16: 293-310 (page 296, Lasius in Formicinae, Lasius genus group)
• Agosti, D.; Collingwood, C. A. 1987b. A provisional list of the Balkan ants (Hym. Formicidae) with a key to the worker caste. II. Key to the worker caste, including the European species without the Iberian. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 60: 261-293 (page 281, Revisionary studies with key)
• Arnol'di, K. V.; Dlussky, G. M. 1978. Superfam. Formicoidea. 1. Fam. Formicidae - ants. Pp. 519-556 in: Medvedev, G. S. (ed.) Keys to the insects of the European part of the USSR. Vol. 3. Hymenoptera. Part 1. Opredeliteli Faune SSSR 119:3-584. (page 555, Revisionary studies with key)
• Ashmead, W. H. 1905c. A skeleton of a new arrangement of the families, subfamilies, tribes and genera of the ants, or the superfamily Formicoidea. Can. Entomol. 37: 381-384 (page 384, Lasius in Formicinae, Lasiini)
• Barden, P. 2017. Fossil ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): ancient diversity and the rise of modern lineages. Myrmecological News 24: 1-30.
• Bernard, F. 1967a [1968]. Faune de l'Europe et du Bassin Méditerranéen. 3. Les fourmis (Hymenoptera Formicidae) d'Europe occidentale et septentrionale. Paris: Masson, 411 pp. (page 350, Revisionary studies with key)
• Bingham, C. T. 1903. The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Hymenoptera, Vol. II. Ants and Cuckoo-wasps. London: Taylor and Francis, 506 pp. (page 338, Type-species: Formica nigra, by subsequent designation)
• Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 50, Lasius in Formicinae, Lasiini)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 97, Lasius as genus; in Formicinae, Lasiini)
• Bondroit, J. 1918. Les fourmis de France et de Belgique. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 87: 1-174 (page 19, Lasius as junior synonym of Formicina)
• Boudinot, B.E., Borowiec, M.L., Prebus, M.M. 2022. Phylogeny, evolution, and classification of the ant genus Lasius, the tribe Lasiini and the subfamily Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 47, 113-151 (doi:10.1111/syen.12522).
• Burchill, A.T., Moreau, C.S. 2016. Colony size evolution in ants: macroevolutionary trends. Insectes Sociaux 63, 291–298 (doi:10.1007/s00040-016-0465-3).
• Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
• Carpenter, F. M. 1930. The fossil ants of North America. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 70: 1-66 (page 58, Lasius in Formicinae, Formicini)
• Chapman, J. W.; Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327 (page 201, Lasius in Formicinae, Formicini)
• Collingwood, C. A. 1978. A provisional list of Iberian Formicidae with a key to the worker caste (Hym. Aculeata). EOS. Rev. Esp. Entomol. 52: 65-95 (page 89, Revisionary studies with key)
• Collingwood, C. A. 1979. The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. Fauna Entomol. Scand. 8: 1-174 (page 92, Revisionary studies with key)
• Collingwood, C. A. 1982. Himalayan ants of the genus Lasius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Entomol. 7: 283-296 (page 283, Revisionary studies with key)

Crawley, W.C., Baylis, H.A. 1921. Mermis parasitic on ants of the genus Lasius. Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society 257: 353–372.

• Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 181, Lasius in Camponotinae)
• Donisthorpe, H. 1916e. Synonymy of some genera of ants. [concl.]. Entomol. Rec. J. Var. 28: 275-277 (page 276, Lasius as junior synonym of Acanthomyops)
• Donisthorpe, H. 1927c. British ants, their life history and classification (2nd edn.). London: G. Routledge and Sons, xvi + 436 pp. (page 206, Lasius as junior synonym of Acanthomyops)
• Donisthorpe, H. 1937c. Generic names, &c., of the British Formicidae. [part]. Entomol. Rec. J. Var. 49: 131-132 (page 132, Lasius as junior synonym of Acanthomyops)
• Donisthorpe, H. 1943g. A list of the type-species of the genera and subgenera of the Formicidae. [part]. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 11(10): 617-688 (page 655, Lasius in Formicinae, Acanthomyopsini; Lasius as junior synonym of Acanthomyops)
• Donisthorpe, H. 1946b. Formicidae, Stephens (1829). Entomol. Rec. J. Var. 58: 89-91 (page 91, Lasius as junior synonym of Acanthomyops)
• Emery, C. 1895l. Die Gattung Dorylus Fab. und die systematische Eintheilung der Formiciden. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 8: 685-778 (page 772, Lasius in Camponotinae, Formicini)
• Emery, C. 1916a [1915]. Fauna entomologica italiana. I. Hymenoptera.-Formicidae. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 47: 79-275 (page 239, Lasius as junior synonym of Formicina)
• Emery, C. 1916b. Formiche d'Italia nuove o critiche. Rend. Sess. R. Accad. Sci. Ist. Bologna Cl. Sci. Fis. (n.s.) 20: 53-66 (page 61, Lasius as junior synonym of Formicina)
• Emery, C. 1917a. Questions de nomenclature et synonymies relatives à quelques genres et espèces de Formicides (Hym.). Bull. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 1917: 94-97 (page 96, Lasius as junior synonym of Formicina)
• Emery, C. 1925d. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum 183: 1-302 (page 226, Lasius as genus and senior synonym of Donisthorpea; Lasius in Formicinae, Lasiini)
• Emery, C.; Forel, A. 1879. Catalogue des Formicides d'Europe. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 5: 441-481 (page 452, Lasius in Camponotinae [Camponotidae])
• Fabricius, J. C. 1804. Systema Piezatorum secundum ordines, genera, species, adjectis synonymis, locis, observationibus, descriptionibus. Brunswick: C. Reichard, xiv + 15-439 + 30 pp. (page 415, Lasius as genus)
• Forel, A. 1878c. Études myrmécologiques en 1878 (première partie) avec l'anatomie du gésier des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 15: 337-392 (page 374, Lasius in Camponotinae [Camponotidae])
• Forel, A. 1886h. Études myrmécologiques en 1886. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 30: 131-215 (page 206, Lasius in Camponotinae, Camponotini [Camponotidae])
• Forel, A. 1893b. Sur la classification de la famille des Formicides, avec remarques synonymiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 37: 161-167 (page 165, Lasius in Camponotinae, Formicini)
• Forel, A. 1895b. A fauna das formigas do Brazil. Bol. Mus. Para. Hist. Nat. Ethnogr. 1: 89-139 (page 103, Lasius in Camponotinae, Formicini)
• Forel, A. 1899h. Formicidae. [part]. Biol. Cent.-Am. Hym. 3: 105-136 (page 127, Lasius in Camponotinae, Formicini)
• Forel, A. 1912j. Formicides néotropiques. Part VI. 5me sous-famille Camponotinae Forel. Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 20: 59-92 (page 89, Lasius in Camponotinae, Formicini)
• Forel, A. 1916. Fourmis du Congo et d'autres provenances récoltées par MM. Hermann Kohl, Luja, Mayné, etc. Rev. Suisse Zool. 24: 397-460 (page 460, Lasius as junior synonym of Acanthomyops)
• Hong, Y.; Wu, J.; Ren, D. 2001. Emendation of Heteromyrmex Zhang, 1989 and Tylolasius Zhang, 1989 (Hymenoptera, Formicoidae [Formicidae]) from the Miocene Shanwang Basin, Shandong Province, China. Geol. Rev. (Beijing) 47: 345-349 (page 348, Lasius senior synonym of *Janda, M., D. Folková, and J. Zrzavý. 2004. Phylogeny of Lasius ants based on mitochondrial DNA and morphology, and the evolution of social parasitism in the Lasiini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 33:595-614. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.07.012
• Jurine, L. 1801. [Untitled.]. In: Panzer, G. W. F. Nachricht von einem neuen entomolischen [sic] Werke, des Hrn. Prof. Jurine in Geneve. Intelligenzbl. Litt.-Ztg. Erlangen 1:161-165. (page 164, Jurine's Lasius was an apid that Morice & Durrant, 1915: 421 proposed as a senior homonym of Lasius Fabricius; which left the Fabr. name in need of a replacement. However, the Jurine name was later suppressed by Act of Commission, leaving the Fabrician v)
• Kubota, H., Yoshimura, J., Niitsu, S., Shimizu, A. 2019. Morphology of the tentorium in the ant genus Lasius Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Scientific Reports 9: 6722 (DOI 10.1038/s41598-019-43175-w).
• Kupyanskaya, A. N. 1989. Ants of the subgenus Dendrolasius Ruzsky, 1912 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, genus Lisius [sic] Fabricius, 1804) of the Far Eastern USSR. Entomol. Obozr. 68: 779-789 (page 779, Revisionary studies with key)
• Kutter, H. 1977c. Hymenoptera, Formicidae. Insecta Helv. Fauna 6: 1-298 (page 208, Revisionary studies with key)
• Manendo, T. 2008. A phylogenetic analysis of North American Lasius ants based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. M.S. Thesis, University of Vermont, 59 pp.
• Mayr, G. 1861. Die europäischen Formiciden. Nach der analytischen Methode bearbeitet. Wien: C. Gerolds Sohn, 80 pp. (page 49, Lasius in Formicinae [Formicidae])
• Mayr, G. 1862. Myrmecologische Studien. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 12: 649-776 (page 652, Lasius in Formicinae (in key) [Formicidae])
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